Central NC under winter storm watch Tuesday PM, Wednesday AM

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for central North Carolina from 9 p.m. Tuesday to noon Wednesday.

Temperatures on Tuesday are expected to drop through the 30s and into the 20s overnight.

Rain and a temperature right at the freezing mark overnight Tuesday into Wednesday could produce a light glaze of ice across Triangle-area roads.

"There is the potential for some ice starting after midnight Tuesday through about 11 a.m. Wednesday morning," said WRAL meteorologist Mike Maze. "We'll see at least some light freeing rain or drizzle."

Skies don't truly clear until the end of the work week when bright sun will again push the mercury toward 50 degrees.

Steady, light rain that started Sunday night created challenges for commuters on Monday morning.

Visibility was low and low-lying areas started to flood by 8 a.m., according to reports from across central North Carolina.

Several crashes were reported during the 7 o'clock hour on major commute routes, including one in eastbound Interstate 40 and another in the area of T.W. Alexander Road in Research Triangle Park. No serious injuries were reported.

Water washed over major arteries like Tryon Road in Raleigh and U.S. Highway 264 in Zebulon.

One of the worst spots was on Durham Drive in Raleigh, where a woman saw her car totally submerged in floodwaters. "I noticed it started rising up and I was like, 'It's time for us to get out of the car,' but it was steadily raining," said Vickie Leach.